complaint vs pleading

complaint and pleading both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
complaint	Yes	No	No	No
pleading	Yes	Yes	No	No

As nouns, pleading is a hypernym of complaint; that is, pleading is a word with a broader meaning than complaint:

complaint: (civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based
pleading: (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding

As nouns, pleading is a hypernym of complaint; that is, pleading is a word with a broader meaning than complaint:

complaint: (criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense
pleading: (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding

complaint (noun)	pleading (noun)
an expression of grievance or resentment	(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
(formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow
(civil law) the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim for relief is based
(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining

complaint (adjective)	pleading (adjective)
	begging